The Decoys

The American Indians used decoys to lure their enemy into an ambush. This painting shows just that; these Sioux are leading the cavalry into ambush. Although the painting does not depict an historic event, it does show how it must have looked through the eyes of the waiting warriors. In 1866, a similar occurrence happened. Captain William Fetterman, acting against orders, was enticed by decoys to pursue the Indians. Three commissioned officers and seventy-six privates of the 18th U.S. Infantry of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and four civilians under his command were killed by an overwhelming force of Sioux under Chief Red Cloud. There were no survivors.